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The Guardian
Sweden 0-0 England: Euro 2025 qualifying – as it happened
By Rob Smyth,
30 days ago
Millie Bright of England celebrates after the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 qualifying match between Sweden and England. Photograph: Naomi Baker/The FA/Getty Images
8.07pm BST
That’s your lot. Tom Garry’s report is live, so I’ll leave you with that. Goodnight!
We said it the other day, right – we don’t make it easy for ourselves when we don’t score. But we’ve seen out the game, same as France. These are tough fixtures to play. So yeah, good draw.
We stood firm. We couldn’t play the football we wanted in the second half which put us under a lot of pressure. I’m glad to see the game out because it could have gone differently.
I really enjoyed the first half – we were very good as a team, but we didn’t get the reward. We took care of business which means we can prepare now. It was the same as the last Euros. We all know how that went; I think everybody wants more.
Updated at 8.06pm BST
7.59pm BST
Honesty isn’t always the best policy
7.56pm BST
Congratulations also to Jess Fishlock, who scored her 45th goal for Wales this evening. She’s now the greatest Welsh goal goat of them all.
7.51pm BST
Full time: Sweden 0-0 England
The Lionesses have qualified for Euro 2025 after a nervy goalless draw in Gothenburg. They controlled the game for 70 minutes, then survived a rare old barrage from Sweden. I’ve been fighting the urge to type ‘job done’ for the last 60 seconds; but sometimes cliches are the most succinct way to tell a story.
England finish a point behind France, who were beaten 3-1 behind the Republic of Ireland. Sweden are third and will go into the playoffs in October.
Updated at 7.58pm BST
7.50pm BST
90+4 min The ball is deep in Sweden’s half, which is all England want.
7.49pm BST
90+3 min: England substitution Fran Kirby replaces Ella Toone.
7.48pm BST
90+2 min Kafaji plays a dangerous pass that is really well cut out by Bronze, eight yards out facing her own goal.
7.47pm BST
90+1 min Kelly is booked for timewasting.
7.46pm BST
90 min England are four added minutes away from Euro 2025.
7.46pm BST
90 min: England substitution Niamh Charles for Lauren Hemp. Sarina Wiegman stressed before the game that she wanted to win. She’ll take a draw now.
7.44pm BST
89 min: Double substitution for Sweden Nathalie Bjorn and Sofia Jakobsson replace Lundkvist and Angeldahl.
7.44pm BST
88 min Angeldahl overruns the ball a fraction, allowing Stanway to boot the ball off her and behind for a goalkick.
7.42pm BST
86 min Stanway’s cross-shot is comfortably saved by Musovic.
7.42pm BST
85 min England keep the ball for 60-90 seconds, just what they needed.
7.40pm BST
83 min: Big save by Hampton! Angeldahl turns and hits a dipping shot from 30 yards that is pushed away dramatically by Hampton, who falls over in the process. The ball must have moved in the air because Hampton lost her bearings and in the end did well to keep it out.
Ijeh is booked for fouling Bronze as she attacked the loose ball.
Updated at 7.59pm BST
7.38pm BST
81 min One of the virtues of keeping the ball is that you tire the opposition out, at least in theory. In reality it’s England who look tired. They really are hanging on.
Bennison’s corner is punched away a little unconvincingly by Hampton, and Rolfo’s follow-up shot is blocked.
7.35pm BST
79 min All Sweden now. Angeldahl’s reverse pass towards Kafaji is crucially cleared by an England player, possibly Walsh.
7.33pm BST
77 min Hampton was caught by Angeldahl and needs treatment. It might be tactical because England have been under the cosh in the last 10 minutes.
7.32pm BST
76 min Rytting Kaneryd’s deflected cross is spilled by Hampton, who dives at Angeldahl’s feet to grab the loose ball. She’s had a tricky few minutes.
7.29pm BST
74 min: England substitution Chloe Kelly replaces Beth Mead, who had a fairly quiet game.
7.29pm BST
72 min Sweden are starting to threaten again. Hampton drops a free-kick under pressure and is relieved to see Williamson and Bright stop Sembrant from getting a clear shot.
Replays show that Hampton collided with Bright again as she jumped to catch the ball. Only one winner there.
Updated at 7.32pm BST
7.26pm BST
70 min Blimey, Ireland are leading France 1-0 in the other game in this group.
7.26pm BST
69 min And they almost did score. Rytting Kaneryd threads a good pass through to Kafaji, who stays on her feet despite being caught by the lunging Williamson. Had she gone down it would have been a penalty.
Instead her cross was put behind for a corner, from which Hampton runs into her teammate Bright. That allows a Sweden player a clear header that is blocked in the six-yard box, possibly by the legs of Hampton.
7.24pm BST
67 min Thing is, England have controlled this game admirably. But history is written after the final whistle, and if Sweden score that ‘expert game management’ will become ‘sterile domination’.
7.22pm BST
65 min The corner is kept alive by England. Williamson’s lobbed cross is headed towards goal by the stretching Russo, but there’s no pace on the ball and Musovic saves comfortably.
7.21pm BST
64 min Andersson stays down after challenging for a cross with Mead. It looks like a head injury but the referee allows play to continue until Bronze’s fierce cross is put behind for a corner.
7.19pm BST
62 min: Double substitution for Sweden Hanna Bennison and Rosa Kafaji replace Kosvare Asllani and Julia Zigiotti Olme.
7.15pm BST
58 min It’s getting tense out there. England have played well, but they remain one false move away from trouble.
7.11pm BST
55 min Stanway finds Mead on the right side of the area. She cuts the ball back to Stanway, who rattles the side netting with a rising drive. A good effort under pressure, but Musovic had it covered.
Updated at 7.30pm BST
7.10pm BST
55 min Charles Antaki has replied to my question in the 48th minute: “Only if the flare is in the right position.”
It is now!
Updated at 7.10pm BST
7.09pm BST
54 min Russo is booked for stopping Musovic’s attempt to launch a counter-attack.
7.09pm BST
53 min Mead drives a free-kick well beyond the far post towards Bronze, whose header back across goal is comfortably saved by Musovic. Tough to score from that angle.
7.07pm BST
51 min “Beautiful evening at Firhill, where I’m taking my daughter to her first ever game,” writes James Humphries. “Scotland women are 1-0 against Serbia at half time, as it stands qualifying for the playoffs in top spot, and if she ends up with her first Scotland game being a victory I’m going to start whingeing about how kids these days have it easy. (Though of course there were several heart-in-mouth defensive mishaps at the end of the first half; I think that’s probably part of the football DNA I keep hearing about.)”
Updated at 7.08pm BST
7.07pm BST
50 min: Very good save by Hampton! Asllani scurries down the right and wins a corner off Walsh. Andersson’s corner isn’t properly cleared by England, and Angeldahl makes just enough space for a snapshot that is smartly saved to her right by Hampton. It wasn’t at full stretch but she would have seen it late.
Updated at 7.07pm BST
7.04pm BST
48 min “Even though there’s quite a lot riding on this – automatic qualification will be a serious advantage – the feel of it all (MBM commentary included) feels saner, kept more sensibly within a narrower bandwidth of expectation and emotion,” says Charles Antaki. “It would, nevertheless, be really good if England could actually get a goal here.”
FAKK SAKE SARINA GET JESS PARK ON. Any better?
7.03pm BST
47 min Toone can’t quite wriggle away from Angeldahl in the penalty area. England have started the second half with the same authority as they did the first.
7.02pm BST
46 min England begin the second half.
7.01pm BST
Half-time substitution Sweden are bringing on AC Milan’s Evelyn Ijeh for Madelen Janogy; this is only her second cap.
6.50pm BST
“I’m on the always eerie Isle of Dogs for a play tonight,” writes Gary Naylor. “Currently in the bar watching the match. This is the show’s flyer – appropriate eh?”
A tense if largely uneventful half ends goalless. England kept the ball like a sophisticated team, though Sweden’s defensive discipline ensured they had only one shot at goal. Sweden were fighting fires for most of the half but had an excellent spell towards the end.
A reminder that a draw is enough for England to qualify automatically for Euro 2025. Lose and they’ll be in the playoffs.
Updated at 6.48pm BST
6.44pm BST
43 min Rolfo’s long-range shot is blocked by Bright. This is Sweden’s best spell by a distance.
6.44pm BST
42 min Asllani (I think) angles a good cross towards the far post, where Carter doesn’t really that Rytting Kaneryd is behind her. Rytting Kaneryd gets the touch but can only divert the ball wide from about eight yards.
6.43pm BST
41 min Andersson’s cross from the left is headed away to the edge of the area, where Lundkvist controls the ball and pings a half-volley over the bar.
6.39pm BST
40 min Sweden have defended ever so well. Despite England’s relentless pressure – they’ve had 72 per cent possession – Musovic has only had that save to make.
Updated at 6.41pm BST
6.38pm BST
37 min Stanway. 25 yards from goal, shapes to pass and then cracks a surprise shot that is pushed round by the sprawling Musovic.
6.36pm BST
35 min Toone zips infield and plays a pass that is deflected towards Mead at the far post. A defender, Andersson I think, stretches to make a vital interception.
6.35pm BST
34 min Russo gets behind the Sweden defence in the inside-left channel but is flagged offside. It was the right decision, and a fine pass from Williamson to put her through.
Updated at 6.52pm BST
6.31pm BST
31 min England’s tempo has been good, and they’re certainly not just passing for passing’s sake. Hemp combines neatly with Carter on the left but her cross is behind Russo.
6.28pm BST
28 min Janogy makes a good run down the left and crosses towards Rolfo. Williamson clears.
6.27pm BST
25 min The home crowd are getting frustrated by Sweden’s inability to keep the ball. That said, I don’t think Sweden will mind if this is 0-0 after 70 minutes. Take it deep and see what happens.
6.24pm BST
22 min England continue to dominate without creating any clear chances. Mead’s free-kick from the left is half cleared to Stanway. She plays a neat one-two with Bronze and is challenged by Eriksson, with the ball looping onto the top of the bar . Musovic had it covered.
6.19pm BST
18 min Stanway runs down the right, onto a long ball forward and curls a terrific cross that just evades Russo on the six-yard line. She appealed to the referee for a penalty; nothing doing.
Updated at 6.23pm BST
6.17pm BST
17 min Sweden threaten for the first time, with Williamson cutting out a couple of crosses at the near post. Really good positioning, especially on the second one.
6.14pm BST
14 min England are given a highly debatable free-kick just outside the area on the right. Hemp’s cross is half cleared, then the flag goes up as Walsh mishits her shot.
6.12pm BST
12 min Sweden are really struggling to get out. Mead dispossesses Lundkvist, who fouls her and is fortunate she isn’t booked.
6.09pm BST
9 min Russo’s neat touch releases Toone, who makes ground and pushes the ball towards Hemp on the left. She has a chance to shoot from a tight angle but instead tries a cutback that is blocked.
6.08pm BST
8 min Hemp plays a one-two on the left and lifts a dangerous cross that is headed away by the stretching Eriksson. Russo was waiting behind her.
6.07pm BST
6 min Bronze is fouled in midfield by Asllani (I think). England have started well and are playing like the home side.
6.04pm BST
4 min England have started with Mead on the left and Hemp on the right; should’ve told you that earlier.
6.04pm BST
4 min “Isn’t Sarina the PERFECT choice for the vacancy now created by Gareth departing?” asks Krishnamoorthy V. “Or do we still care about gender issues?”
It would be a helluva twist if the new England manager was the current England manager.
6.03pm BST
3 min Some good early possession for England. Toone is allowed to run 30 yards into the area before her cross is put behind by Sembrant.
6.00pm BST
1 min Peep peep! Sweden, all in yellow, kick off from left to right as we watch.
England (4-3-3) Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Carter; Stanway, Walsh, Toone; Mead, Russo, Hemp. Substitutes: Charles, Earps, Clinton, Greenwood, Keating, Kelly, Kirby, Le Tissier, Naz, Park, Turner.
Referee Maria Caputi (Italy).
5.37pm BST
Sarina Wiegman on her team selection
Hannah came in when Mary was injured and did well. There’s big competition for the goalkeeping place, and tonight she’s in.
We had to manage everyone’s minutes and yellow cards on Friday. Some players are knocking on the door, including Jess Park, but Ella Toone starts this game.
We know we have to defend really well. We also want to play in possession. At the moment I think this is the best defence for the team.
Updated at 5.57pm BST
5.36pm BST
You probably haven’t heard , but Gareth Southgate has resigned as England manager after eight glorious years. You can follow all the reaction with our live blog.
Sarina Wiegman makes three changes to the Lionesses team that started the win over Republic of Ireland on Friday. Millie Bright , Lucy Bronze and Ella Toone come in for Alex Greenwood, Maya Le Tissier and Jess Park. It is, as our man Tom Garry points out , the same XI that started the win in France in June.
Peter Gerhardsson makes five changes to the Sweden side that lost 2-1 in France. Hanna Lundkvist , Magda Eriksson , Filippa Angeldahl , Kosovare Asllani and Madelen Janogy replace Josefine Rybrink, Emma Kullberg, Hanna Bennison, Sofia Jakobsson and Evelyn Ijeh.
You’ve got 60 seconds to remember all that and then we’ll have a spot test.
England (4-3-3) Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Carter; Stanway, Walsh, Toone; Mead, Russo, Hemp. Substitutes: Charles, Earps, Clinton, Greenwood, Keating, Kelly, Kirby, Le Tissier, Naz, Park, Turner.
Referee Maria Caputi (Italy).
Updated at 5.26pm BST
5.00pm BST
Preamble
Evening one and all. The big games keep coming, eh. Forty-six hours on from the Euro 2024 final, the Lionesses face a crucial Euro 2025 qualifier against Sweden in Gothenburg. It’s a playoff before the playoffs: one team will clinch a place at next summer’s tournament in Switzerland, the other will have to take the circuitous route at the end of the year, knowing all the while that one wrong turn could be fatal.
England, who are three points ahead of Sweden, only need a draw tonight, though that comes with its own challenges. Stick or twist? Sarina Wiegman is pretty clear that she wants England to go for the win.
“We are never playing a match to draw,” Wiegman said. “We are playing a match to win. And, [if] we win the game, we might even top the group too. Everyone expects France to win [against Ireland] but you never know what happens in football.
“Tomorrow is a very important game for us, we can still become third in the group as well as first. That’s how we approach it. We’ve had some very good training sessions, everyone is fit and we’re ready.”
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